Happy Labor Day! Thank a union. September 5, 2011 Jill In the United States, today is Labor Day. And it’s a good time to reflect on all the great things that unions have given us — like workplace safety standards, the eight-hour work day, and the weekend.
Seriously though, I do. I’m a unionized electrician (official classification: journeyman wireman), and I have most of the things on that list. I have weekends, I get time-and-a half for overtime (double time on Sundays and holidays). I have health insurance and a pension (defined benefit pension—not defined contribution, so even if I grow old like my 90-something grandmothers, I won’t outlive my money). My workday is eight hours. I have a safe workplace. While I am subject to periodic layoffs (the hazard of the construction trades), I’m not subject to the whims of my employer, and I can’t be fired (translation: can’t collect unemployment benefits) without just cause. The minimum wage still exists in my state (and is higher than the federal minimum). My father (a retired union member) gets a pension, Social Security, and Medicare, as well as supplemental health insurance from my mother’s union membership (even though she is deceased—her supplemental was better than his, so when he retired, he took hers instead). What I don’t have: holiday pay or sick leave (most construction Locals in any trade don’t). But what I like best about being a union member is: it is the most democratic organization I have ever been involved with, bar none. Granted, not all unions (and not all Locals) are like that, but most are. I have a direct voice in what goes on at “the hall”. My Local’s officers are directly elected by the membership (not appointed from a District Council). It’s probably worth mentioning that I get paid the same as the men (something that seldom happens for nonunionized women).
Sad to see so few comments here when union busting is one of the great tragedies of our lives, destroying the middle and working class, and helping to give free reign to the rise of corporate greed and corporate control of our political system. The old battle cry–Workers of the World Unite: you have nothing to lose but your chains and a world to win–still applies. Perhaps more than ever.
I still had to work today and I’m union labor I did however get to collect holiday pay for it (double payment woohoo!)
i’m part of a very big union, up here in ontario. the teacher’s union! i love my union, and i’m very grateful to have my career belong to such an equitable organization – especially for women. i never have to worry about a man equally or less qualified than me making more money than me.
There’s too much union-busting going on today. People must have short memories. I believe a union is one of those vital things that some don’t appreciate until it’s lost, like electricity or clean, running water.